This is exactly the sort of crap Australian skating does NOT need. People talking rubbish, hinting darkly at wild conspiracy theories, dishing out gossip as "fact". Australian skating has a hard enough time getting taken seriously as a sport to begin with without idiots like you two carrying on like eleven-year-old girls.

This is exactly the sort of crap Australian skating does NOT need. People talking rubbish, hinting darkly at wild conspiracy theories, dishing out gossip as "fact". Australian skating has a hard enough time getting taken seriously as a sport to begin with without idiots like you two carrying on like eleven-year-old girls.

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I totally agree. It really is unnecessary to be making such comments. We are such a small skating community and to read some of this stuff is embarrassing to say the least.

I totally agree. It really is unnecessary to be making such comments. We are such a small skating community and to read some of this stuff is embarrassing to say the least.

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oh come on... Everyone talks like this about the high level skaters. Whether they deserved to win, or lose, they should've gotten higher, the judges obviously favor them. Why do we have this idea that it is forbidden for Australian skaters. really?

I agree on the matter though, in an Australian competition, Chantelle is likely to win. Competing anywhere else I would expect a very different result.

Icenetwork: According to the rules of your federation, the skater who earns the spot will be the one representing Australia at the Olympic Winter Games. Is this so?

Han: The Australian Olympic Committee and Ice Skating Australia, my federation, policy states that whoever secured the spot at Nebelhorn Trophy gets the Olympic spot. In theory, this does mean that anyone could have gone to Nebelhorn Trophy to secure the spot. However, another policy stated that whoever had the highest total score from various international events would get to go. As I had the highest total score, I was the skater chosen to go.

Icenetwork: And what will your goals be at the Australian championships this December? Will it be something like last pre-Olympic training or does this event have special meaning for you?

Han: This year's Australian nationals will be held in my home state of Victoria and at my home rink, Medibank Icehouse in Melbourne. No matter where you are from, skating in front of a home crowd is always very special and meaningful. At this event, I hope to put out two solid programs and perform the way I do in practice.

4.2 World Championships
(a) Selection for the 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships will be allocated to senior age
eligible athletes from the ISA Senior International Pool who:
(i) have achieved the ISU Minimum Technical Scores for World Figure Skating
Championships 2014 by 26 January 2014.
The ISU minimum Technical Scores for World Figure Skating Championships 2014 as
published by the ISU are:
Men SP 34.0 FS 63.0
Ladies SP 26.0 FS 46.0
Pair Skating SP 24.0 FS 41.0
Ice Dance SD 28.0 FD 38.0
and
(ii) have competed in the Senior Division of the 2013 AFSC or have been granted an
Exceptional Circumstance for the 2013 AFSC
(b) If more than one (1) athlete in each discipline has met the above requirements, athletes will
be evaluated by the ISA Selection Panel based on their two highest:
(i) Technical Element Scores (short program/dance); and
(ii) Technical Element Scores (free program/dance); and
(iii) Total Points Scores
achieved at any two of the following events:
&#61607; 2013 AFSC;
&#61607; 2013/2014 ISU International Competitions in the current international skating season;
and
&#61607; One 2013 ISU Championship event
(c) The mean of each of the scores obtained for 4.2(b)(i),(ii),(iii) above will be calculated. The
highest aggregate ordinals of the scores will be used to determine nominations. In the case
of a tie in the ordinals of the scores, then the athlete with the highest short program/dance
TES will determine the nominations.
(d) The nominations will be published on the ISA website (www.isa.org.au) by 3 February 2013.
Subsequently ranked athletes will be entered as substitutes.
(e) If ISA is unable to fill the full entry quota by 26 January 2014, then ISA will consider any
athletes in the ISA Senior International pool who are able to achieve the ISU Minimum
Technical Score requirements for ISU World Figure Skating Championships between 27
January and 16 March 2014. Athletes entered into ISU international competitions within the
specified timeframe will receive a provisional entry for the ISU World Figure Skating
Championships subject to achieving the ISU Minimum Technical Scores. If more than one
athlete meets the ISU Minimum Technical Score requirements, the athlete with the highest
short program/dance TES will be nominated.

oh come on... Everyone talks like this about the high level skaters. Whether they deserved to win, or lose, they should've gotten higher, the judges obviously favor them. Why do we have this idea that it is forbidden for Australian skaters. really?

I agree on the matter though, in an Australian competition, Chantelle is likely to win. Competing anywhere else I would expect a very different result.

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Talking about it doesn't mean that it is true. And if you feel the right to talk about conspiracy theories, others have the right to object to it. If you think the rules are not fair. then write in to change it. Conspiracy theories do not paint a good picture of any organisation and they have the right to demand proof to support the negative theory. If I am a rich organisation, I will take legal action. This is defamation to a certain extent.

Q: The Australian National Championships are coming up, what are your goals for this season and what can you share about your new programs for&#8239;this year?&#8239;

A: I have a few different goals this season. I am happy to say I have already achieved my first goal at the 2013 Cup of Nice just a few weeks ago, which was to gain my Four Continents and Olympic TES scores. Some of my other goals of the season are to skate a new personal best in both programs at Nationals and make the 2014 Australian Four Continents team. For my programs this year I am skating to "Pagliacci" and "Nessun Dorma".

Australia selects its representative based on previous results. The process is also open to interpretation, although Han&#8217;s recent accomplishments make her the clear favorite to earn the Sochi spot. The selection will be announced on Dec. 4.

Han earned an Olympic berth for Australia by finishing fifth at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany in September. She finished first among skaters whose countries had not already qualified for the Olympics. After finishing 10th in the short program, Han zoomed to fifth with a score of 98.42 in the long program, eclipsing her previous personal best by more than seven points. Her total score was 147.16.

At the Volvo Open Cup in early November in Latvia, Han skated even better. She won the short and long programs and won first place in the international event with a total of 151.76.

&#8220;I think going into this season, I had some good momentum,&#8217;&#8217; said Han, who is coached by Serhii Vaypan and trains in Simsbury. &#8220;I feel like I&#8217;m being taken more seriously as a senior international skater. The judges and the panels are starting to look at me more and I think I&#8217;ve improved technically in the quality of my jumps, skills and interpretation of music.&#8221;

Am I missing a thread in Kiss and Cry about Australian Nationals, or is the competition only being discussed here and in the CAS hearing thread?

I really enjoyed watching the Novice Dance: simple skating and simple lifts. I only see Eliza Smyth and Jordan Dodds listed for international competition, and they're Juniors. I couldn't hear the name of Matthew Dodds' partner, with whom he competed in Senior Pairs. they seemed to have lots of speed, and their one-foot, change direction footwork into their jump combo was wicked. Their lifts had lots of ice coverage, but I was a little scared watching his feet in the turning lifts, although he seemed quite stable. She fought for her landings, while the younger Pairs women seemed to collapse into theirs. I wish they could go to Gauthier for some extensive coaching. None of the Pairs get high at all in the double twists.